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GSSA
The 1820 Settler Correspondence
 as preserved in the National Archives, Kew
 and edited by Sue Mackay

pre 1820 Settler Correspondence before emigration

ALL the 1819 correspondence from CO48/41 through CO48/46 has been transcribed whether or not the writers emigrated to the Cape. Those written by people who did become settlers, as listed in "The Settler Handbook" by M.D. Nash (Chameleon Press 1987), are labelled 1820 Settler and the names of actual settlers in the text appear in red.

BOOTH, Henry

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/41, 749

The humble petition of H. BOOTH of 13 Wrights Buildings, Spa Road, Bermondsey

Sheweth

That in consequence of the encouragement held out by His Majesty's Government to persons inclined to proceed to the projected Colony at the Cape of Good Hope, your petitioner was induced to join a Society of persons for that purpose and paid into the hands of the Treasurer Mr. Wm. COCK the sum of £18:0:0

That from some circumstances which have occurred subsequent to such determination of your petitioner he has been compelled to relinquish his design and had signified the same to Mr. Wm. COCK and other members of the Society at various times.

That Mr. Wm. COCK the Treasurer has at different times promised to refund the eighteen pounds deposited with the Society but he is now at Portsmouth on the point of sailing and in a reply to a letter addressed to him by your petitioner requesting the fulfilment of his promise he refused to do so

That your petitioner has provided a person perfectly unobjectionable to proceed in his room but Mr. Wm COCK positively refused to admit him.

That in consequence your petitioner is exposed to great inconvenience in being left the alternative of proceeding to the Colony, which he cannot under circumstances now do, or of losing the sum advanced

That your petitioner is left without a remedy except in your Lordship's interference which he humbly prays and that your Lordship may be pleased to give your order to Mr. W. COCK requiring him to admit the person substituted or refund the money advanced by your petitioner

And your petitioner shall ever pray

Hy. BOOTH

PS The person who is willing to supply my place as promised to repay me the whole sum paid into the hands of Mr. COCK.

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